This page is general health information, not medical advice. It cannot tell you whether you have an infection. A clinician can, and the testing options on this site are a good place to start.

Gonorrhea is a common bacterial infection, and in most cases it is curable. Many people who have it notice nothing at all, which is why testing matters as much as symptoms do.

This guide explains how gonorrhea behaves in the body, what the symptoms of gonorrhea can look like in the genitals, throat and rectum, and why the testing site matters. It also covers how a clinician approaches gonorrhea treatment, why antibiotic resistance gets so much attention, and where Miami residents can find free or low-cost testing.

Key points

Gonorrhea is caused by a bacterium. The CDC says it can infect the genitals, rectum and throat.
Infections at any of these sites can cause no symptoms, so only a test can show what is going on.
The CDC says gonorrhea is curable with the right antibiotic from a clinician.
The CDC recommends a follow-up test 7 to 14 days after treatment for throat infections.
Miami-Dade County had a higher reported gonorrhea rate than Florida as a whole in 2025, according to FLHealthCHARTS.

What gonorrhea is, in scientific terms

Gonorrhea is caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, a bacterium. It prefers the warm, moist lining of the body, called mucous membranes. That includes the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat and, less often, the eyes.

The bacterium spreads through vaginal, anal or oral sex. The CDC also notes that it can pass from a pregnant person to a baby during birth. Because it is a bacterium, it responds to antibiotics. That is very different from a virus such as HIV or herpes, which clinicians manage but do not cure.

The cell surface of the bacterium changes often. Research suggests this is one reason the immune system does not build lasting protection, so a person can be infected again after being treated. The CDC makes the same practical point: past infection does not prevent a new one.

Symptoms of gonorrhea by site

The CDC STI Treatment Guidelines (2021) describe a wide range of experiences. Some people have clear symptoms. Many have none. Symptoms also overlap with chlamydia and other infections, so they cannot show which infection is present.

Genital symptoms

In people with a penis, the CDC says gonorrhea often causes urethritis. That can mean burning when urinating and a discharge from the penis. Some people notice pain or swelling in one testicle.

In people with a cervix, the CDC says many infections cause no symptoms, or symptoms mild enough to be mistaken for something else. When symptoms do appear, they can include a change in vaginal discharge, burning with urination or bleeding between periods.

If the infection is not treated, the CDC says it can spread to the reproductive organs. In people with a uterus this can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which may affect future fertility. In people with a penis it can cause epididymitis, an inflammation near the testicle.

Throat symptoms

The CDC says throat infections from oral sex usually cause no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, a sore throat is the most common, and it looks like many other throat problems.

This matters because a throat infection can go unnoticed and still be passed on to a partner. It is also the site where the CDC recommends a follow-up test after treatment, which is covered below.

Rectal symptoms

The CDC says rectal infections are also often silent. When symptoms appear, they can include discharge from the rectum, anal itching, pain, or bleeding. Some people feel pain with bowel movements.

Rectal infection can occur after receptive anal sex, and it can occur in people of any gender or orientation.

Other places the bacterium can reach

Gonorrhea can infect the eyes through contact with infected fluid. The CDC also describes a rare, more serious form called disseminated gonococcal infection, where the bacterium spreads through the bloodstream. It can cause joint pain or swelling, skin sores and fever. Anyone with these symptoms should see a clinician promptly.

Why site-specific testing matters

A urine test or a single genital swab only looks at one part of the body. If a person has had oral or anal sex, the bacterium can be present in the throat or rectum while the genital test comes back negative.

The CDC recommends testing at each site of sexual contact. For example, the CDC recommends that men who have sex with men be screened at least once a year at every site of contact, and more often for those at higher risk. That can mean a urine test, a throat swab and a rectal swab.

This is also why the CDC says throat infections matter. Throat infections tend to be silent and are harder to treat than infections at other sites. Testing only one site can miss them.

Research suggests that a large share of gonorrhea infections in some groups are found only at the throat or rectum. In other words, a negative result at one site says nothing about the others. A clinician can help decide which sites make sense to test based on a person's sexual history, which the clinic keeps confidential.

Who should be screened

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening for chlamydia and gonorrhea in sexually active women 24 years and younger, and in older women who are at increased risk. The CDC adds that people with a new partner, multiple partners or a partner with an STI may benefit from more frequent testing.

The CDC also recommends testing for anyone with symptoms, and testing for pregnant people who are under 25 or at increased risk. If you are unsure which category applies, a clinic can talk through it with you.

How testing works

The CDC says the most common tests are nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs). They look for the genetic material of the bacterium. Depending on the site, a sample can be a urine sample or a swab of the throat, rectum or vagina. Some clinics let a person collect their own swab in private.

Results timing varies by clinic and lab. Ask the clinic when and how they share results.

On timing after exposure, the CDC does not publish a single fixed window period for gonorrhea in the treatment guidelines. A clinician can advise on when a test is most informative for your situation, and may suggest testing again later.

Is gonorrhea curable?

Yes. The CDC says gonorrhea is curable with the right antibiotic prescribed by a clinician. This is true for bacterial STIs in general, and also for trichomoniasis. It is not true for HIV, herpes or HPV, which are treatable or manageable but not curable.

One important caution comes from the CDC: treatment cures the infection, but it does not undo any damage the infection caused before it was treated. It also does not protect against getting gonorrhea again. That is why prompt testing and retesting both matter.

Gonorrhea treatment: the CDC approach

Medicines are chosen and prescribed by a clinician, and the right choice depends on the site of infection, any allergies, pregnancy status and local resistance patterns. This guide does not give doses or schedules.

In its 2021 guidelines, the CDC recommends an injectable antibiotic called ceftriaxone for uncomplicated gonorrhea. Earlier guidance paired it with a second antibiotic. The CDC moved to a single-drug approach as resistance patterns changed. If chlamydia has not been ruled out, the clinician may add a second medicine for that infection.

If a person has a significant allergy to the usual medicine, the CDC describes alternative regimens, and the clinician will choose among them. Tell the clinician about any allergy history, especially to penicillin or similar antibiotics, before treatment.

After treatment

The CDC advises people to avoid sex until treatment is complete and until their partners have also been treated. Symptoms, if there were any, should improve. If they do not, the CDC recommends going back for further testing, including a culture that can check which antibiotics work.

Test of cure for throat infections

For most sites, the CDC does not recommend a routine test of cure when the recommended treatment was used. Throat infection is the exception. The CDC recommends a test of cure 7 to 14 days after treatment for gonorrhea of the throat.

The CDC explains that treatment is somewhat less reliable at the throat than at other sites. A follow-up test confirms whether the bacterium is gone.

Retesting after three months

The CDC recommends that everyone treated for gonorrhea be tested again about three months later. This is not because treatment fails. It is because reinfection is common, often from a partner who was not treated.

Partners

The CDC recommends that sex partners from the 60 days before symptoms began, or before diagnosis, be evaluated and treated. Florida allows expedited partner therapy in some situations. Under Fla. Stat. 384.27, a clinician may provide a prescription for a partner who is unable or unlikely to seek care in a timely manner, provided the conditions in the law are met, according to the CDC's summary of Florida's legal status. Ask the treating clinician whether this applies.

Antibiotic resistance, explained plainly

Neisseria gonorrhoeae has repeatedly developed resistance to antibiotics over the decades. The CDC notes that it has lost several earlier treatments this way, and it monitors the problem through a national surveillance program that tests samples from clinics around the country.

The CDC describes resistance to older medicines as widespread, and has raised concern about reduced susceptibility to the medicines that remain. Research suggests that overall use of antibiotics, including for other infections, can add pressure on the bacterium to adapt.

What this means for you in practical terms:

Take the medicine exactly as the clinician prescribes it, and finish the full course if you are given one.
Do not use leftover antibiotics or a partner's prescription.
Return for the recommended follow-up testing, especially after a throat infection.
Tell the clinician if symptoms continue after treatment. A culture can help show which medicine works.

Where doxy-PEP fits

In 2024 the CDC issued guidance on doxycycline taken after sex (doxy-PEP) for certain groups, including men who have sex with men and transgender women who had a bacterial STI in the past year. The CDC notes the evidence shows a clear benefit for syphilis and chlamydia, and less benefit for gonorrhea, partly because many gonorrhea strains are already resistant to this class of antibiotic. Whether doxy-PEP is appropriate is a conversation for a prescriber. A doxy-PEP provider in Miami was not listed in the sources used for this guide, so ask the clinic whether they offer it or can refer you.

Safety, allergies and special situations

Treatment under the CDC guidelines is generally well tolerated, but a clinician should always review the following first:

Allergies. A history of reactions to penicillin or related antibiotics changes which medicine a clinician picks.
Pregnancy. Gonorrhea can pass to a baby at birth and can cause eye infection in newborns. The CDC says treatment is possible during pregnancy, and the clinician chooses the medicine accordingly.
Other medicines and health conditions. Tell the clinician about everything you take, including supplements.
Co-infections. The CDC says people with gonorrhea are often tested for chlamydia, syphilis and HIV at the same visit, since they can occur together and an STI can raise the chance of acquiring HIV.

Gonorrhea in Miami: the local data

The Florida Department of Health's FLHealthCHARTS reports a gonorrhea rate in Miami-Dade County of 250.5 per 100,000 people in 2025, with 7,052 cases. The statewide rate for Florida that year was 156.5 per 100,000, with 36,596 cases.

For a national comparison, the CDC's 2023 state ranking tables list Florida at 206.7 per 100,000 (46,726 cases), ranked 11th among states. The two sources cover different years, so their state figures are not directly comparable.

Reported cases reflect people who were tested and diagnosed, so the figures depend partly on how much testing is done. Higher numbers are a reason to make testing easy, not a reason for worry or blame.

Under Florida's reportable disease rule (Rule 64D-3.029), clinicians and labs report gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV to the Florida Department of Health, according to the department's practitioner list. That reporting supports public health follow-up and the rates above.

Where to get tested in Miami

Several Miami clinics list free, low-cost or sliding-scale testing. For the fuller list, including details on costs and what to bring, see this guide to STD testing in Miami. The CDC also runs a national locator at gettested.cdc.gov.

Hours and policies can change, so call before you go.

Clinic	Address and phone	What the source says
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade, Health District Center (STI clinic)	1350 NW 14th St., Suite 350, Miami, FL 33125; 305-575-3800	The health department says it offers low or no-cost testing for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. Hours listed: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closing at noon on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. Call to schedule; the page does not state a walk-in policy.
Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade, West Perrine Health Center (STI clinic)	18255 Homestead Ave., Miami, FL 33157; 305-575-3800	Same low or no-cost testing. Hours listed: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., closing at noon on 3rd Fridays. Appointments through the same phone line.
Care Resource, Midtown Miami	3510 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33137; 305-576-1234	CDC GetTested lists free HIV and STI tests and no appointment required. Care Resource says it offers a sliding fee scale for uninsured and underinsured patients. Testing hours listed: Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Borinquen Medical Centers, Main Office	3601 Federal Hwy, Miami, FL 33137; 305-576-6611	CDC GetTested lists HIV and STI tests as free, no appointment required. Accepts insurance, Medicaid and Medicare, and lists a sliding scale.
Jessie Trice Community Health System, Main Center	5361 NW 22nd Ave, Miami, FL 33147; 305-637-6400	CDC GetTested lists HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea tests, no appointment required. Insurance, Medicaid, Medicare and a sliding scale are listed; no free services are listed.
University of Miami, Rapid Access Wellness Clinic and PrEP Program	1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136; 305-243-2584	CDC GetTested lists HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and STI tests as free. An appointment is required.

Several of these clinics list their services through CDC GetTested, which notes that hours may change. The clinics' pages do not all list prices for each test, so ask when you call. If a clinic's page does not state a cost, the clinic is the right place to confirm it.

For questions about STI services in the county, the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade lists a disease control line at 305-470-5660 on its sexually transmitted infections page. For HIV testing questions, its HIV prevention page lists 786-792-5269.

Quality indicators for a good testing visit

You cannot judge a clinic by a brochure, but a few signs suggest a visit is thorough:

The clinician asks which kinds of sex you have had, so they can choose the right sites to test.
The test uses a swab or urine sample suited to each site, not only one sample for everything.
You are told how and when you will get results, and what happens if a result is positive.
Treatment is prescribed by a licensed clinician, not suggested from a distance.
Follow-up is explained, including the throat test of cure and the three-month retest where they apply.
Questions are answered without judgment.

Privacy and Florida law

Under Fla. Stat. 384.30, a minor of any age may consent to examination and treatment for sexually transmissible diseases, according to the Florida Legislature. The statute says a minor's STD consultation, examination and treatment are confidential and may not be disclosed directly or indirectly, such as by billing a parent or guardian, with exceptions in s. 384.29. The Guttmacher Institute's state summary also lists Florida as allowing minors to consent to STI testing and treatment.

Florida has laws on disclosure to partners. Fla. Stat. 384.24 sets disclosure-and-consent rules for people who have been told they have certain infections, including gonorrhea. For gonorrhea, a violation is a first-degree misdemeanor under s. 384.34. A clinic or the health department can explain what this means in practice.

For pregnancy, Florida Administrative Code Rule 64D-3.042 requires practitioners providing prenatal care to test for chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis at the first prenatal exam and again at 28 to 32 weeks. A patient may refuse in writing.

What research suggests about the road ahead

Researchers are studying new antibiotics and a possible vaccine. Some observational studies have suggested that vaccines made for meningococcal disease, a related bacterium, may offer partial protection against gonorrhea. These findings are still being studied, and no vaccine is currently recommended by the CDC for gonorrhea prevention. For now, regular testing, prompt treatment and condoms remain the tools the CDC points to.

Questions people often ask

Can gonorrhea go away without treatment?

The CDC recommends treatment for every infection. Leaving gonorrhea untreated can allow it to cause complications and to be passed to others, even without symptoms.

Does a negative result mean all sites are negative?

Not necessarily. A test only reflects the site that was sampled and the timing of the sample. A clinician can explain whether more testing makes sense.

Can I get gonorrhea again?

Yes. The CDC says past infection does not give lasting protection, which is why it recommends retesting about three months after treatment.

Is HIV testing part of a gonorrhea visit?

Often it is offered. The CDC notes that STIs can raise the chance of acquiring HIV, and many Miami clinics test for both at the same visit. Miami-Dade residents can also ask about the county's free HIV home test program on the health department's HIV prevention page.

The bottom line

Gonorrhea is common, often silent and usually curable. Because symptoms are unreliable, testing every site of contact is the only way to know what is going on. A clinician chooses the treatment, and follow-up testing, especially for the throat, helps confirm it worked.

In Miami, free and low-cost options exist across the county. Call ahead, ask about costs and hours, and bring questions. Getting tested is a routine part of health care.

Gonorrhea: Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Miami